Mr. Liam Herrick:

Our report is the first comprehensive analysis of the situation in Ireland against the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. If one looks at the gap that we identify between the State's obligations and the reality on the ground, it is not unfair to describe that as a crisis. It is a very stark gap, as we describe it. In terms of why we have that gap, Dr. McDonagh has identified a number of specific areas where it is clear to us that there is a need for enforceable rights and law reform. The difference between some of the progress that was made in Ireland over the last 20 or 30 years in areas such as women's rights, for example, is that sometimes there were EU legal obligations which forced the State to change. As the UNCRPD is not legally effective in Ireland, it will not force that change in and of itself. There needs to be domestic legislation in certain areas and we have identified a number of specific ones. In fairness, in the programme for Government there is a wide range of commitments to introduce law reform and to amend policy. Many of those measures, if they were introduced in the most effective and maximalist way possible, could really make a meaningful difference. It is early in the life of this Government so there is an opportunity here. Dr. McDonagh is right to be optimistic or to look on the bright side. If this Government and this Oireachtas fulfil the potential that is there and give effect to what has been identified in our report, we could see a meaningful advance in the next number of years. It is a political question as to whether the people elected to this House will demonstrate that will and it is not one that we can answer.